AFF Photo Essay: Opening Night with 'Exporting Raymond'

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Exporting Raymond

Opening-night gala events at film festivals are not always as fabulous as they might sound. Personally, I like to go find the counterprogrammed movies and watch those instead -- no crowded red carpets, no expectations, and usually you end up seeing the opening-night film in a theater soon anyway. But Austin Film Festival, with its focus on writing, usually doesn't pick an opening-night movie that will be opening in theaters with the month, but rather something less obvious and more interesting.

It might seem curious for a festival with a focus on writing to select a documentary for its opening-night film, but once you've seen the documentary, it makes sense. Exporting Raymond is about Everybody Loves Raymond creator/writer Phil Rosenthal's journeys to Russia to create a Russian version of the popular TV sitcom. It is in the style of a personal essay and is heavily sprinkled with writer/director Rosenthal's comic observations.

I covered the red carpet before the movie started Thursday night. Of course it is fun in a masochistic way (and if you're not claustrophobic) to squish into a huge, crowded red carpet to try to take photos of a big-name celebrity, but I have a fondness for these smaller events where a few of us take turns photographing and chatting with one or two people involved with a movie. The Exporting Raymond red carpet was Phil Rosenthal, his wife Monica Horan, his producers and his film crew, whom he'd had flown in for this world premiere of the documentary. Not your usual red carpet crowd, and it was enjoyable to snap group photos of them  ... and even a few photos of some crazy people in line while waiting. See if you can spot the Gordon and the Whale writers in this photo.

AFF line at the Paramount

The orchestra level of the Paramount was full for the opening-night film, and the audience was extremely enthusiastic -- I've rarely heard people laugh so hard at a documentary. Afterward, Shane Black (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) moderated a Q&A with Phil Rosenthal -- apparently they're neighbors -- in which Rosenthal had Black doubled over with laughter more than once.

Exporting Raymond Q&A

Exporting Raymond is being distributed by Samuel Goldwyn Films. No idea yet on a release date in theaters or other media, but Slackerwood will keep you posted. If you want to hear more about the movie, check out my review over at Cinematical. More opening-night red carpet photos are available in my AFF 2010 Flickr set.

Phil Rosenthal